Page 26 of The Neighbor's Son

“Sorry,” I mutter again. “I’m just confused and, yeah, fucking upset.”

Because I need to confide in someone, I spill everything to Cole. I tell him about my birthday party, all my interactions with Casey, including the stolen cat, her double date with Clara and the douchebags, our romantic date, and then what transpired this afternoon. I leave out all the personal details Casey told me, but I imply that we’ve had deep conversations.

By the time I finish with my word vomit, the waitress brings my chocolate milkshake and Cole’s black coffee along with a basket of fried mozzarella sticks.

“How many girls have you dated, Bray?”

Heat burns at my cheeks. “They weren’t exactly beating down my door to date me.”

“Well,” Cole explains, “you’re seeing a woman now. That means you need to act like a man.”

I scowl at him. I was all man when I had my finger inside of her last night. This bit of information I keep to myself.

“I’m not saying you’re being immature,” he rushes out, “but I do think you need to talk to her later with a cool head. Being jealous over one of her patients was seriously bratty teenager behavior. A real man, who cares about and trusts his woman, doesn’t act that way.”

“That’s why I left,” I grumble. “It was all just stupid. I realize that now.”

“It wasn’t stupid.” He sips his coffee and seems to mull over what he’s going to say next. “Honestly, it was a nice thing a boyfriend would do. But are you her boyfriend?”

Again, I had my fucking finger inside her last night.

I clench my teeth together and focus on poking my straw in my milkshake, not interested in it at all. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know because you haven’t talked about these things.”

“I thought it was implied.”

“That’s another kid game, man. Implying your wishes or hinting isn’t going to accomplish anything.”

“I don’t want to screw this up,” I admit, voice hoarse. “I really, really like her. She’s so damn gorgeous, funny, sweet, vulnerable. I just want to make her happy.”

“From what you’ve told me thus far, you are making her happy. But, if you want to continue to make her happy, you need to have direct conversations with her about what you two plan to get out of this relationship.”

“What if she just wants to have a good time and nothing more?” My heart sinks at that prospect. “How do I keep from falling in love with her?”

“These are questions for her, Brayden. I’m sure you two will figure it out.”

When Casey gets home from work, I’m sitting on her front porch on the top step. Her expression is unreadable when she exits the car.

I rise to my feet and stride over to her. She’s tense as I approach, eyes watching me warily.

I really did mess it all up, didn’t I?

“I’m sorry,” I say first and foremost. “I just wanted to do something nice for you.”

Her body relaxes and her gaze softens. “The coffee was a sweet gesture. Thank you.”

I inch closer, inhaling her perfume I’m addicted to. “I should have warned you I was coming. That was out of line, huh?”

She takes my hand in hers and squeezes. “Nope. I was surprised, but again that was sweet.”

“But…”

“That whole part where you had a look of disgust on your face while I was with my patient, that was the part that was out of line.” She frowns. “Storming out of my workplace was out of line. It was embarrassing to be honest.”

Her words make me want to shrivel up.

“I talked to Cole,” I admit. “He pulled me over. I was upset and he helped me.”

---